Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2011-12: Kevin Stenlund appeared in one men’s league game with Botkyrka HC in the second division in Sweden and skated in seven games with the club’s U20 team. He was one of the top scorers for the Botkyrka HC U18 team and played for Stockholm 2 in the TV-Pucken tournament for high school players. He had no points nor penalty minutes in his only game with the Botkyrka HC men’s team. In seven games with the club’s U20 team, including five qualification playoff games, he scored 3 goals and was -2 with 4 penalty minutes. Stenlund scored 24 goals with 15 assists and 44 penalty minutes in 16 regular season games for the Botkyrka U18 team and had 4 goals with 4 assists and 20 penalty minutes in the qualification playoffs. Stenlund scored 5 goals with 6 assists and was +3 with 4 penalty minutes in eight games for Stockholm 2 in the TV-Pucken tournament.

2012-13: Stenlund moved from Botkyrka to the top division HV71 club but was limited in his first season in Jonkoping. He was selected to play for the Sweden U17 team in the Four Nations Tournament in November but missed the tournament due to injury. In five games with the HV71 U18 squad he was -2 with 1 goal, 2 assists and no penalties.

2013-14: Stenlund skated in Sweden’s U20 SuperElit league as a 17-year-old. In 29 regular season games for HV71 he scored 4 goals with 5 assists and was +4 with 16 penalty minutes. He scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was +3 in seven playoff games as HV71 captured the SuperElit title. Stenlund scored 8 goals with 3 assists and was +2 in nine games for the HV71 U18 squad.

2014-15: Stenlund made his SHL debut — skating in 17 games with the HV71 men’s team — and was a team captain for the HV71 U20 team. He scored 1 goal and was -3 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 6:41 minutes of ice time, in SHL play. Stenlund scored 14 goals with 22 assists in 36 regular season games for the HV71 U20 team and was +4 with 16 penalty minutes. In six SuperElit playoff games he scored 1 goal with 3 assists and was -2 with 4 penalty minutes. Stenlund was ranked 21st amongst international skaters and was selected by Columbus in the second round (58th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.

2015-16: Stenlund played 43 games for HV71 in his first SHL season and was a point-per-game scorer for the club’s U20 team. He played three games with the Sweden U20 team but was not on the final roster for the World Juniors. Stenlund scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was -6 with 20 penalty minutes during the SHL regular season. HV71 finished ninth, sweeping Orebro HK in a preliminary series before being swept by Skelleftea. Stenlund scored 1 goal and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes in six playoff games. Stenlund scored 1 goal and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes in six playoff games. In 17 games with the HV71 U20 team he scored 5 goals with 9 assists and was +11 with 31 penalty minutes.

Talent Analysis

Stenlund is a big, mobile center. He is the type of player where you may not notice him every game, but that can be a positive thing for a player who rarely makes costly mistakes. He was a very safe pick for Columbus, and often appears to be in control of the game and those around him. He is very difficult to play against thanks to his positioning and overall intelligence, including a special prowess in the faceoff circle. He does have some skating issues, but with considerable SHL icetime ahead of him, Stenlund will have plenty of time to work on his stride.

Future

Stenlund saw limited ice time for HV71 in Sweden's SHL in 2015-16 as a 19-year-old. Not overwhelming in terms of scoring skills or offensive instincts, he projects as a sound, two-way center you uses is size to advantage and makes solid decisions in all three zones.

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